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Check the shingles to see if any are loose or lifting; and watch out for worn-out valleys. (DREAMSTIME PHOTO ILLUSTRATION)

By Ryan StarrSpecial to the Star

Fri., Oct. 19, 2012

With Old Man Winter looming just around the corner, it’s a good time to undertake some essential fall fix-ups to ready your home for the impending onslaught of ice, snow and sub-zero temperatures.

We consulted home renovation experts for suggestions on simple jobs you can do right now to ensure you’ll weather the winter while saving on future maintenance and energy costs.

Adequate insulation

Nothing is more important to keeping your house warm and energy efficient than proper insulation.

Start in the attic, where most air leakage occurs. If the insulation up there is sub-par, add blown fibreglass or batt insulation between the ceiling joists; better yet, use spray foam insulation.

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Spray foam is expensive — from $5 to $10 per square foot — and should be handled by a professional, but it yields the best results.

“If you can do spray foam insulation, you’re going to see a big savings,” says Joel Scopelleti with Carick Home Improvements. “Heat rises, so the better the seal in the attic, the less chance there is of heat escaping.”

Same goes in the basement. “If your basement is non-insulated, you’re losing a lot of that heat before it even gets upstairs,” Scopelleti notes. “So keeping it well insulated will give you the biggest bang for your buck.”

Seal it up

Ensure windows and doors are caulked and sealed and that they close properly. “If you have gaps and cracks in the caulking, you can get breezes coming through,” explains David Males with Northern Edge Construction Services.

For homes with older storm windows, apply plastic wrap to the inside window frame to prevent heat loss and air penetration. Using window coverings, whether blinds or drapes, is another way to keep heat from escaping.

Outside, inspect your home’s foundation for cracks and holes in the mortar, which should be sealed. And make sure all openings and penetrations are caulked. In the case of dryer and exhaust vents, cage them to prevent rodents from sneaking into your home.

Consider removing ivy or vines from the facade; they may look pretty, but they trap moisture and don’t let the house breathe properly.

Remember to drain outside water lines and turn off taps to prevent problems when the big freeze comes.

On the roof

If your roof isn’t in ship shape, it could lead to serious and costly problems once winter arrives.

Check the shingles to see if any are loose or lifting; and watch out for worn-out valleys. “It could mean you have a moisture and ventilation problem,” says Males. “If you don’t have proper ventilation (through your attic), you can get condensation problems and ice buildup on the roof, which can cause major damage.”

Ensure penetrations on the roof — plumbing stacks, roof vents, flashing at the walls and around chimneys and skylights — are sealed properly.

And after the fall leaves have all come down, it’s essential you clean out your eavestroughs and downspouts. “If gutters are dammed up and the snow is sitting up there, it will eventually freeze,” says Lefteris Karagiannnis with Mane Construction Group. “That ice dam will go underneath your shingles, find a weak point, and once it thaws the water will come into your house.”

On a flat roof, beware of leaves and debris clogging drains and causing water backups.

Stay toasty

Fall is the right time to inspect your home’s heating and ventilation systems.

Change the filters on your furnace and get heating ducts cleaned out and sealed off; not only will this make your heating system more efficient, it will also improve air quality.

“No point in having a high-efficiency furnace if it has a dirty filter, all the vents are clogged and it’s blowing out dust everywhere,” Scopelleti notes.

If you plan to use a fireplace, now’s the time to clean your chimney and ensure the damper works before you start burning wood. “This should be done every year,” says Karagiannnis. “Otherwise it can be a major safety issue.”

Finally, consider the state of your hot water tank. If the hot water is running out too fast or takes forever to refill, it could be time to replace the tank.

You can go with a newer, more energy-efficient model, or spring for a tankless hot water system. “It takes up less space, and you’re only using it as you need it,” Scopelleti explains. “And for a family that takes a lot of showers, it’s even more valuable because you’re not going to run out of hot water.”

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